With family history steeped in Robin Hood’s hallowed turf of Nottingham, Alice Ingley was born to be an archer.

Petty theft may not be her style, but Ingley is out to steal a medal from her rivals in London next year, and as Australia’s top-ranked female archer she looks set to realise her dream.

“I didn’t expect to even be considered for London because of my age,” 18-year-old Ingley said.

“I was really hoping for Rio [2016] but I’m in real contention now so I’m really hoping I get there.”

Formerly training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Ingley returned to her hometown Perth this year. Ingley now trains at the Yokine Archery Club alongside her younger brother Callum and the move has proved invaluable to her archery.

Her quick rise in success has come as a surprise, most of all to Ingley herself, but she is rightly proud of her achievement in reaching the number one Australian spot at such a young age.

“I’ve just slowly risen up the ranks,” she said. “I’ve had a few major comps recently that I’m really proud of.”

Ingley has had a packed year of competition in 2011, posting positive results at the World University Games in China and the World Archery Youth Championships in Poland.

The international competition has been a boost for the young athlete who last year competed as Australia’s only female archer at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games.

“Singapore was huge,” Ingley said of the inaugural Games. “I didn’t expect it to be that big. It was my first real big event and it was amazing!”

Ingley, who was also a three-time medallist at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival, placed ninth in the women’s individual recurve in Singapore and then combined with Ben Nott to place fifth in the mixed teams’ event.

With the experience of a Youth Olympics behind her, Ingley is well-placed to take London 2012 in her stride – but first she has to get there.

Ingley will next week head over to the UK to take part in the London 2012 Test Event for archery, giving Lord’s - the home of cricket – its first proper test-run ahead of the 2012 Games. She will be joined by dual Olympian Deonne Bridger in the women’s, and Matt Gray, Taylor Worth and Ryan Tyack in the men’s.

Then, the all-important Olympic qualifying event will take place in Masterton, New Zealand on 1-2 January 2012, where Ingley will compete in the Oceania tournament to secure Australia a spot at the Games.

Alice Wheeler
Australian Olympic Committee